>>> Click the “Start Writing” button to send a prewritten comment to the Commissioner of Public Lands and the Department of Natural Resources! <<<

Who are we writing to?

The Commissioner of Public Lands is an elected position that oversees our state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and is responsible for managing nearly 6 million acres of public lands for the good of all Washingtonians. The Board of Natural Resources (BNR) is the governing body of DNR and works with the Commissioner to create new policies and decide what lands should be logged. We are writing to both!

Why?

Washington State’s mature “legacy” forests are carbon workhorses, storing and sequestering more carbon than any other type of forest in the world! They also make our communities more resilient to climate change impacts including wildfire, flooding, drought, and biodiversity loss. Legacy forests are Washington State’s best natural climate solution.

There are only about 70,000 acres left of unprotected legacy forests in Western WA that are managed by DNR. But these forests are scheduled to be logged under current state policy — thousands of acres in the next year!

Every time one of these rare forests is logged, we’re giving up a powerful tool in our climate-change-fighting toolbox — and we don’t have time to waste. The Commissioner of Public Lands has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to introduce a new policy ensuring that these legacy forests keep doing their job of storing and sequestering carbon and protecting our future.

What can you do?

We’ve made it quick and easy for you to email the Commissioner of Public Lands and the BNR to tell them that WA’s legacy forests are worth more standing!

Click “Start Writing” to send a comment urging the BNR to 1) immediately stop planning and approving all timber sales containing mature forests; 2) enact a policy that permanently protects all 70,000 acres of legacy forests; and 3) work with the legislature and governor to purchase replacement young forests for ecologically-sound timber production, to maintain rural jobs and guarantee a long-term source of timber while restoring the health of our state forests.

Thank you for taking action!